Otodontidae

Otodontidae is an extinct family of large predatory sharks that lived during the Cenozoic Era. The most famous member of this family is Carcharocles megalodon, often simply referred to as "megalodon." These sharks are primarily known from their fossilized teeth, which are often exceptionally large and serrated. The genus Otodus is considered an ancestral form, with Carcharocles evolving later. Otodontids possessed massive jaws and a diet that likely included large marine mammals such as whales and seals. Their teeth are characterized by their broad, triangular shape and fine to coarse serrations along the cutting edges. The distribution of otodontid fossils suggests they were widespread in warm and temperate seas globally. The extinction of the Otodontidae family is thought to be linked to cooling ocean temperatures and changes in prey availability during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. While megalodon is the most iconic, the family includes other related species whose evolutionary relationships are still debated among paleontologists. The study of otodontid teeth provides valuable insights into ancient marine ecosystems and the evolution of shark morphology.